The most famous Horse Trials in the world has just celebrated its 50th birthday. Now sponsored by the Mitsubishi Motor Company, Badminton has come a long way since 1949, a year in which just 22 horses competed.

In 1949, the only eventing the British had ever seen was at the Olympic three day Course at Aldershot the year before. The rules for Badminton's first competition were devised by the event's organiser, Colonel Trevor Horn, and the aim of the event was to inspire British riders to take up the 'new' sport. The speed and endurance phase was a total of fourteen miles long, and like today consisted of a stiff trot through 'roads and tracks', a gallop around a steeplechase course, a further trot through roads and tracks and a cross country course.

Picture 1

In 1949 the cross country course had only 21 obstacles and ran basically in a straight line, unlike today's looping course. The fences were quite straight forward but imposing and needed a courageous horse to take them on.

The first Badminton was won by the five year old Golden Willow, ridden by John Sheddon. Golden Willow was an American-bred thoroughbred who could trace his ancestry to the great Man O'War. He was an incredibly bold, fast horse - the type that still dominates the rostrum at Badminton today. There have been many fairy-tale winners of the event since then, but none so young. Sheila Wilcox wrote herself into history by winning the event three times in a row (High and Mighty 1957 & 58, Airs and Graces, 1959), a feat still to be equalled. In 1969 Richard Walker became the youngest rider to win. He was just 18 when he took the title on Pasha. PICTURE 1

Picture 2

Captain Mark Phillips, now the American Team Trainer, won the event four times (Great Ovation, 1971 & 72; Columbus, 1974 and Lincoln, 1981) PICTURE 2. and Lucinda Green (nee. Prior-Palmer) won an amazing six times on six different horses (Be Fair, 1973; Wideawake, 1976; George, 1977; Killaire, 1979; Regal Realm, 1983 and Beagle Bay, 1984.) Lucinda has also been placed 2nd twice, 3rd once, fifth three times and seventh twice - not a bad record!

Picture 3

The two smallest horses to win did so in the sixties. Australian farmer Bill Roycroft brought his 15 hh stock horse to Badminton in 1960. On seeing the course Bill commented "There are jumps out there that you could fall into, get buried and never be heard of again!", yet he won at his first attempt. In 1968 Our Nobby won, ridden by Jane Holderness-Roddam (nee. Bullen). He was officially 15 hands high, the smallest height allowed to compete, but apparently he had to very excited to stand up that tall! PICTURE 3.

Ian Stark became the only rider to complete a one-two when Glenburnie stood runner-up to Sir Wattie in 1988. New Zealander Mark Todd has always had the knack of getting on with any horse and has an admirable record at Badminton on "catch" rides. In 1989 he finished third on The Irishman after owner Rodney Powell broke his collar bone the week before Badminton. Mark had one schooling session before the event - Rodney and The Irishman went on to win two years later. In 1994 history repeated itself. Lynne Bevan was due to pilot her family's Horton Point but broke her collar bone the weekend before.

Picture 4

Once again Mark sat on a horse only once before going into the arena, yet this time he won! At 16, Horton Point was the oldest winner of the Trophy. Mark has also won on the diminutive Charisma, Southern Comfort and Bertie Blunt. PICTURES 4 AND 5. For 30 years, from 1961 to 1991 the Trials were sponsored by The Whitbread Brewery, one of the longest sponsorships in sporting history. The Cirencester based Colt Car Company - UK importers of Mitsubishi vehicles, took over the sponsorship in 1992 and this year the company is celebrating its own Silver Jubilee. Looking through photographs taken at Badminton in the 50's, 60's and even into the early 70's there are two striking differences between the fences then and now. Many of the early fences appear basic, temporary and light in frame - even small at times, but often placed in positions that made it difficult to jump. Today's fences are less "tricky" and "trappy" but appear very solid, very permanent and in many cases, well, frankly - very huge. In 1964 the course's design fell to Major Frank Weldon and for many, Frank's courses were "Badminton at its best."

Picture 5

There always seemed to be one fence (at least) on the course that looked unjumpable to both spectators and competitors; yet such was Frank's skill as a course builder that these fences often caused the horses - if well ridden - no problems at all.

Frank Weldon and the event's creator, the 10th Duke of Beaufort (known as "Master") had similar aims - to make the British riders prepared for anything they might come across in the three day events on the Continent. Frank felt it was possible to "...frighten the life out of the rider without hurting the horse!" and built his courses accordingly. One of his methods of not causing harm to the horse was to rope fences together so that they could be quickly dismantled if necessary, a practice still carried out today. In 1967 Major Weldon also assumed the title "Director of Badminton", taking on much of the organisation of the event which had hitherto fallen on the the Duke of Beaufort.

Picture 6

When Frank Weldon retired in 1988 the mantle of Course Builder and Director Of Badminton fell to Hugh Thomas. PICTURE 6.

On the threshold of the 21st Century, Badminton is just as popular as ever, yet Hugh Thomas is now working in difficult times. If Badminton is to retain the generous sponsorship necessary to back such a huge event it has to attract television coverage; to attract television coverage it has to be seen to be totally horse-friendly. Yet, as in any sport, the competitors have improved over the years. Hugh has to try and find a balance between making the cross country course viewer-friendly yet difficult enough to challenge the competitors and provide spectacle. It has not been possible for Hugh to build higher and wider - nearly all the fences are of maximum dimensions already - so he has gone down the avenue of making the course more technically difficult, introducing narrow fences which demand control and accuracy. PICTURE 7.

Picture 7

Picture 8

The course did not find favour with many of the riders who, over the years, have become accustomed to "...a big, bold, galloping course that you can really attack." at Badminton. The course for the 50th Badminton was definitely big and bold - the fact that the Mitsubishi Pick-ups PICTURE 8 (set at an angle) had become the second fence was immediate testament to that - but hardly a single fence could be approached directly. A record number of nations was represented at this year's competition, including Japan who was fielding its first ever rider, Masaru Fuse. Heading this multinational affair at the end of two days of dressage, despite a torrential downpour during their test, was Mark Todd riding Guiseppe Veronesi's Broadcast News. "Fortunately the rain was coming down vertically rather than into our faces, but the brim of my top-hat was filled and every time I had to bow my head both the horse and I were treated to an extra shower. My boots felt as if they had come through a fall in the lake!" PICTURE 9

Picture 9

Mark took pole position from overnight leaders, Britain's Pippa Funnell riding Supreme Rock, and last years winner Chris Bartle, this time riding Oscar, was in third place. Many of the firm favourites fared badly in the dressage. Olympic and World Gold medallist Ready Teddy, ridden by Blyth Tait, could not contain his nerves and reared up when he was meant to halt.

Scottish rider Ian Stark had two rides, the young Jaybee, owned by Lady Hartington and Arakai, owned by Lady Vestey and a member of the British Open European Gold medal winning team. Jaybee behaved well and was 4th going into the cross country, but Arakai would not settle and was lying in a disappointing 32nd place. Germany's Bettina Overesch was also strongly fancied with her European Champion, Watermill Stream, but such are the vagaries of the English weather, that the sun shone for the few minutes of their test.

Picture 10

For many this would not matter, but Watermill Stream (affectionately known as Spooky) is a "head-shaker" - that is - he is very much affected by flies, and will shake his head violently as they flick past and onto his muzzle. PICTURE 10

The few minutes of sunshine were enough to attract the flies and to ruin Spooky's chances. Bettina, however, remained philosophical. "I knew his short comings when I bought him - he would never have come up for sale in the first place if his previous owners had been able to cure him. He is still my favourite horse." On the other hand, one rider competing at Badminton for the very first time was doing remarkably well. 21 year old Greek rider Heidi Antikatzides rode Michaelmas beautifully into equal 5th place.

Before the start of the cross country two fences were removed from the competition, as the Technical Delegate felt that the rains of the day before had made the approach to these fences potentially dangerous.

First to go, Ian Stark and Jaybee had a couple of heart-stopping moments. Tackling the fourth fence, the Charisma Pond, Jaybee showed his lack of experience by straggling his legs over the fence. Climbing the Beaufort Staircase at fence 20, Ian decided to take the most direct route up the three huge steps to the narrow logpile at the top. Jaybee struggled with the distance and ended up sprawled across the top of the logpile. Only agility and superglue seemed to keep the pair together. Later Ian was to say "The Kiwis had all decided to take the indirect route - I intended to, but as I climbed the Staircase it was too tempting to go straight on - it was the only time I could approach a fence head on the whole way round the course!"

Picture 11

Within a few minutes of Ian's completion the rain started coming down, not torrentially but relentlessly. This had two major effects. More visibly, it made the cross country course quite slippery, so the riders had to be even more careful about setting their horses up in front of each fence, thus making the optimum time more difficult to attain.

Behind the scenes, however, the going on the steeplechase course was becoming increasingly deep. The first fence on the steeplechase had to be jumped three times, and as the day wore on the ground in front of it deteriorated dramatically. Horses were coming onto the cross country course already weary, which did not help their cause.

Kristina Gifford, who had been 7th after dressage, withdrew General Jock before the cross country as did four other riders. Five riders, including 10th placed Leslie Law riding Shear H20 were eliminated for having two falls on the cross country course and 24 horses retired on that final phase.

Picture 12

Chris Bartle retired at the third fence, the first of two coffin (rail, ditch and rail) combinations on the course following a fall from Oscar. Irish rider Eric Smiley, equal 8th overnight, retired after a crashing fall at the Picnic Tables, fence 4 and compatriot Joanne Jarden was taken to hospital after a fall at the Vicarage Vee, fence 14, a big corner positioned over a yawning, water filled ditch.PICTURE 11.

At the same moment that Joanne came off Belle Canna, Polly Philips was being catapulted from her ride, Coral Cove. The hugely extravagant jumper had taken off far too exuberantly at the first element of a bounce out of the Carisma Pond, fence 5, and had landed literally underneath the second element. Polly was unconscious for several minutes and was air-lifted to hospital.

Picture 13

Miraculously she only suffered a broken collar bone - and a lot of bruising.PICTURE 12 Several riders had problems at the Lake complex. Swollen water levels made the jump onto the Jetty in the middle of the lake, (fence 19) difficult to judge and the complex claimed seven fallers and six retirements including that of former dual Olympic gold medallist Matt Ryan from Australia. PICTURE 13 A moment of high drama occurred here when fellow Aussie Stuart Tinney lost control of his mount, Tex, and careered over a cameraman, through the fencing and into the disabled enclosure. PICTURE 14.

The incident looked disastrous and it was very fortunate that the only injuries incurred were a broken arm and a broken collar bone. The moment was captured both by photographers and by Television and gave American cameraman Melvyn Cox instant stardom when he returned the next day, arm in plaster. Melvyn's overriding memories of the incident were of worrying about his camera! Despite the conditions there were some really outstanding performances.

Picture 14

Ireland's Austin O'Connor was having his first ride at Badminton and he flew around the course, the only rider of the day to match Ian Stark's cross country time penalties of 29. His incredible performance on the mare Simply Rhett rocketed him from 67th place after dressage to 4th place after speed and endurance. PICTURE 15

Australian Sammi McLeod also put up a sterling performance and climbed 40 places from 45th to 5th on her homebred Hunter Red. American Kerry Millikin, equal 5th overnight climbed two places, and Pippa Funnell only dropped five places to 7th despite having a refusal at The Jetty.

Jeanette Brakewell rode impeccably on Over To You to eventually be rewarded with a top ten finish, and New Zealander Dan Jocelyn's 8 year old Silence completed a brave clear round despite looking very tired at times.

Dressage leader Broadcast News, having incurred 21 penalties on the steeplechase, needed to come home within 18 time faults on the cross country to maintain his lead. Unfortunately Broadcast News looked a little unenthusiastic quite early on and eventually ran out at the Vicarage Vee, at which point Mark retired, no longer in with a chance of a good place.

Picture 15

Mark Todd's less experienced ride, Word for Word, climbed to 2nd place, and another less experienced horse, Andrew Nicholson's New York was in 5th place going into the final show jumping phase. In fact Andrew was the only person who started off with two rides to manage to get them both around the cross country - Merillion was lying 11th.

Ian Stark's second ride did not prove as fruitful as his first on Jaybee. Arakai, last horse to go out on to the roads and tracks, had a crashing fall at the second fence on the steeplechase. "I asked him to take off from a long way off and in the going he just couldn't do it!", explained Ian, who had to be taken to hospital for a check up after the fall.

Picture 16

Less than half of the original field of 72 came forward for the final trot- up, held in front of Badminton House. The trot-up is an inspection of all the horses going forward onto the show jumping phase, to make sure they are well enough to do so. Japan's Masaru Fuse had to withdraw Talisman Du Jarry before the trot-up, a great disappointment as he had performed a lovely, clear cross country round. Although Austin O'Connor was asked to trot Simply Rhett twice, as she seemed a little stiff to begin with, all the horses passed the vet's inspection.

Picture 17

Before the top twenty horses competed in the show jumping the packed grandstands were treated to a parade of past winners, driven around the arena in open horse-drawn carriages, the first of which was driven by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh. PICTURE 16.

To say that the show jumping was merely a formality would be a little unfair, but people had mentioned to Ian Stark that all he had to do to win was to remember to go through the start and finish and not to forget the course. Yet twice before Ian has been in the lead going into the show jumping and twice before he had lost the title by having fences down, so his nerves must have been a little on edge! "Because Jaybee is such a young horse I had no idea how he would cope with the atmosphere in the arena, but as it was he was like an old hand. The only fence he had down was my fault!" said Ian, who would have won even under the old scoring system. PICTURE 17.

Only two horses in the top twenty jumped clear rounds, but the top five placings remained unaltered.

Picture 18

A clear round by Pippa Funnell and Supreme Rock lifted them one place from 7th to 6th, and a clear round by Carolyne Ryan-Bell, riding Hooray Henry II, brought her up to 15th place. Hooray Henry, by completing the competition, became the oldest horse ever to do so. 19 year old Henry has completed 5 Badminton's and will now be retired to the hunting field, leaving Carolyne without an Advanced ride.PICTURE 18.

Her Majesty The Queen, making her first visit to the trials for 14 years, was very warmly welcomed and presented the prizes. PICTURE 19. Despite the course having been one of the most difficult for many years 10 riders were present at the prizegiving who had had their first ride at Badminton, an encouraging sign for the future of eventing. PICTURE 20.

Picture 19	Picture 20

	4 Times winner Captain Mark Phillips with American rider Kerry Millikin who finished 3rd overall		11th Duke of Beaufort with a member of the Beaufort Hunt
	"Cameraderie" Mark Todd (NZ)(left), eventual runner up and Ian Stark (right), the eventual winner, wait to show jump		Winners of the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Trophy - Ian Stark & Jaybee
	"Thank-you Jaybee"		Melvyn Cox - a celebrity after being mown down by Stuart Tinney & Tex